Sentinel Zone
By: Marshelle Richards (aka Santana)

My appologies for the late story. I'm trying to sell my house, build another all the while trying to deal with the other day to day things that RL throws my way. Well, it's midnight and time to do a load of laundry (I was writing instead of washing) and then go to bed...I do work you know. (grin)

Disclaimer: They only belong to me in my daydreams. No money is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended. This was written solely for the purpose of entertaining my fellow list sibs and to make my dues. Not beta'd, but I did do a spell check and I read over it a few times.

Pairings: Jim and Blair

Rating: I would say PG13 since there is no graphic sex. Listmom may correct the rating if she deems necessary.

Category: M/M First times

Author's notes: I've been sick today so blame it on my stomach virus. I don't what style this would be considered. It's mostly Blair's point of view. Just imagine that he is narrating the story and I think you'll be all right.

//Indicates thought. //

Sentinel Zone
By: Marshelle Richards (aka Santana)

I hadn't been feeling well all day, my stomach cramped and I was making a mad dash to the bathroom every time I turned around. Needless to say, it made my day of teaching interesting if not for myself, then for my students. All I could think of was getting home.

I didn't think I was running any fever, but then again, it's impossible to check your own temp by putting your hand against your forehead...although I caught myself doing just that several times through out the day. I finally tried to convince myself that I wasn't running a fever and that I wasn't contagious.

I let out a sigh of relief when I got back to the loft. The key was just where it should be, right above the door. I knew within minutes, I would be relaxing on the couch with a nice mug of soothing tea to still the rumbling of my stomach.

I didn't notice Jim sitting in the darkening loft when I came in. Instead, I was focused on hanging up my coat and making sure my backpack was out of harms way...I didn't feel like replacing yet another laptop, or listening to Jim moan for 6 weeks about a fractured toe...been there, done that. Happy with the placement of my pack, I ventured into the kitchen and filled my trusty old teakettle with water. I had just set it on the stove to heat, when my stomach knotted up, forewarning of a sudden need to meet with the porcelain god in the other room.

*****

Using the spray, as I had been brain washed to do, I tidied up the small bathroom just in time to hear the teapot signal me that it was tea time...and it was none to soon. The loft was completely dark when I entered the kitchen. I switched on the light over the island and set about preparing my tea. It wasn't until I was inching my way into the living area, ('I had overfilled my cup and was praying that I didn't spill anything on Jim's precious hardwood floors') that I saw Jim. Now, I wouldn't say I screamed like a girl, but I did scream.... but in a manly sort of way. I kind of dropped my cup and somewhere in the distance I could hear the ceramic making contact with wood floor and the shattering that ensued. I also barely registered the hot tea as it splattered across my socked feet. Those things seemed light years away as something else suddenly had my attention. Jim, my best friend, my sentinel, was sitting deathly still in the dark.... Why? I rushed to his side, turning on a lamp somewhere along the way. Immediately I checked him over for hidden injuries...nothing. I called out to him...not so much as a blink. "This is serious." I said to no one in particular. Feeling familiar pangs beginning to surge through my body, I had to fight off my own panic attack...I didn't know what to do. "Calm down Sandburg, you can do this...you know what to do." I took a few breaths, noticing my breath curling in the cool air of the loft. Smacking myself in the head I ran to the small fireplace in the corner and soon had a fire going. I snagged an afghan from the back of the couch and draped around Jim's shoulders. I looked into his eyes, finding that his pupils were dilated. "What are you zoning on man?" I rubbed his arms briskly, while I called to him, trying to impress myself on several of his senses at once. I was sitting dead in his line of vision, I had the touch thing going on pretty good, and I was waking up the dead with my pleas for him to come out of it.... but still nothing was working. "Taste... taste... taste." I frantically looked around trying to come up with something to stimulate his taste buds. Running into the kitchen I grabbed a hand full of hot peppers from where they hung above the island.

They were still relatively fresh; we had just purchased them a few days before.

Jim likes to dry his own...sorry I'm getting off track. I looked back into the living room and tossed the peppers back on the counter. Jim would kill me if I stuck a hot pepper in his mouth, well, he would after he stopped choking.... yep, that was definitely a bad idea. "Something else... something, something sweet maybe?" I snagged the sugar bowl from the pantry and the salt and as I was going back to the living room I stopped. I looked at Jim and then back at the peppers. I snagged one of those too...just in case the other failed.

I settled myself in front of my fading sentinel with the sugar bowl in hand. Licking my finger, I stuck it into the sugar and then worked my finger into his mouth. I worked it around and then repeated the gesture. I probably shouldn't admit this, but I was kind of getting a little turned on...just a little, don't look at me that way! I mean, why wouldn't I, with my finger slipping in and out of that gorgeous man's mouth, gliding almost effortlessly without resistance...so hot. Sorry, forgot myself again. I didn't think it was working so I tried using the salt. I hoped that the coarser texture and the shock of going to a different extreme in taste might be just the thing to snap Jim out of it. But the only thing that I succeeded in doing was making myself even hornier. Well, the pepper was my last resort. I no longer cared if Jim killed me for sticking it in his mouth...hell, he would kill me if he knew how turned on I was from playing with his mouth.

I squared my shoulders, bracing myself for what might happen. Biting the tip off of the pepper, I shoved the remaining part into his mouth. My eyes watered and I had to spit the little bit that was in my mouth out. I made a mental note to myself to find it and pick it up later...before Jim did. I watched my friend cautiously, praying that my feeble attempt at bringing him back would work. Suddenly, a tear ran down his cheek. I held my breath, releasing it only when I saw another...and then another...and then a blink. Jim was turning red now and I worked to get the pepper out of his mouth. Then he started coughing and I was giddy with excitement...not that he was choking...he was coming back, stay with me here. "I'll get you some water, just concentrate on breathing." I coaxed before I ran into the kitchen, slipping in the spilled tea and kicking the remains of my cup across the floor. By some act of God I made my way back to my friends side.

I held the glass to his mouth as he gulped down its contents. "Sandburg...." he rasped.

"Shhh...Don't talk. Here drink some more." I held up the glass again and he slapped it out of my hand, sending it crashing to the floor. At this rate we would be spending his next paycheck at Wal-mart stocking up on everyday drinking essentials. Notice I said his paycheck.

"Sandburg...."

His voice was rough, but I couldn't tell if it was from the peppers or from being pissed at me... maybe both. I listened as he said my name again. It didn't sound like he was mad...not really, but he did sound strange. He started to move toward me. "Okay, this is it...the end...it's over. I'm sorry about the pepper big guy, but you see, I had run out of options and...."

///oh my!///

Jim picked me up and kissed me. My eyes were bulging, my feet were swinging off of the floor, my lips were sizzling and my heart was about to pound out of my chest. Needless to say, I had forgotten about the constant rumbling and grumbling of my stomach. Detached without love... history.... I was now entering the Sentinel Zone. I shook the insanity from my fuzzy head...that's
not what I meant...I'm gloriously curly, not fuzzy! "Um...Jim?" Oh mercy, he was staring at me...if I didn't know better, I'd swear he was lusting after me...no...not Jim...nah. Again I shook my head of the fantasy that had begun spinning its little web. "Come on man, put me down and talk to me."

Before I knew what was happening, I was on the couch and Jim was on top of me. "Jim?" I squeaked. My heart was in my throat and it didn't leave much room for sound to get out.

"So sweet...so hot...my Blair...my guide." Jim said, his voice all deep and throaty.

Can you say "Shwing?" Yep you guessed it, my Mr. Happy was getting happier.

Sweet... hot? What was he talking about? Then it hit me about the time he snatched my flannel shirt off of me. My taste.... basically me, my finger and the sugar....My spit on the pepper. Gross I know, but little did I know that it would drive a sentinel into a sexual overload. But what to do??? I had been dreaming of this moment for years...okay, not this exact moment, but you know what I mean. I was prepared to give the man the ride of his life.... but...Was it right? Was this really Jim? Did he really want this? Or was it something darker that had been lurking deep inside, finally released by my actions, and using Jim against his will...a primal imperative to take the guide.....

Oh screw it...I want it...and I think deep down he does too. I'll deal with the consequences in the morning...at which time I'll plead temporary insanity.

****

Oh, I can hardly move. Jim worked me every which way and then demanded that I do him the same way. I open an eye and find myself in a comfy little nest of pillows and blankets on the floor in front of the large windows, but Jim was no where to be found.

I stood up and blushed when I noticed I was completely naked. //Someone got a peep show last night I'll bet.// Taking a blanket from the nest, I wrapped it around myself. I ventured through the loft trying to find my friend, my sentinel, and my lover. I smiled at that thought, hoping that I wasn't too premature in making that assumption. I really wanted this to be long term...long
term as in the forever kind. I heard movement in the bathroom so I stumbled (...yes stumbled, my feet got wrapped in the blanket...) toward the bathroom. I knocked on, and then opened the door only to find Jim looming over the toilet, his face all pasty...his arms wrapped protectively around his stomach. Again he heaved, and I stepped forward offering support. After all, I had been there.

//Oh man! He got this from me! Shit! What was I thinking, swapping bodily fluids with my best friend, while I'm sick!// I wince trying to think of something to say. "Looks like you've got that 24 hour bug that's going around.

I hear it's pretty bad." Denial is always the best route. He didn't get it from me. Afterall, I was never contagious.

"You think so?" He asked me sarcastically, taking the damp cloth I offered him, wiping his face and mouth.

"Well, I hope it's that and not the fact we spent the night together last night." I suddenly found the floor interesting. Funny, I never noticed the hairline crack in front of the vanity. My attention was diverted from the floor to the face of my sentinel when he took my chin in his hand.

"Why would you think that Blair?"

I shrugged. "Well, you were zoned so deeply when I came in. And when I finally got you to come out of it, you just ... I don't know, you were different. I was afraid that you would think that I took advantage of that somehow." Again I tried to look away, but he wouldn't let me. His eyes became so soft, so unlike the cold blue steel that I'm used to. I almost lost myself in the wonder of their changing.

"Blair, I wasn't zoning."

"But.. " He placed a finger over my lips.

"Let me finish?" I nodded and he continued. "I was back in the jungle talking to Incatcha. He told me that it was time for the next leg of my journey and that I could no longer deny my feelings for you. To do so would mean loosing you forever. I knew that I couldn't do that. Then you started doing that thing with your finger and the sugar. I could smell you, and how turned on you were getting. I could taste you through the sugar. I don't know...it just stirred something within me, and suddenly everything that Incatcha had been saying fell into place. I realized that I had been keeping you at arms length for too long and that I was ready to pull you in close and embrace you and everything about you."

I'm pretty sure that was drooling, or panting like a dog...but I don't care. Jim's words were music to my ears. I wanted to beg him to pinch me and wake me from the dream, but then again....

"Say something Blair." He smiled and wiped something from the corner of my mouth.

///I've waited for you to say this forever man./// "uhhhhhhhh..." I gulped, hoping to get my voice working. "I'm sorry about the pepper?" Damn, there's that squeak again.

"Yeah, I could have done without the pepper chief."

"Sorry. Did I mention my temporary insanity?" I asked sheepishly.

"No, but why don't you let me brush my teeth and then we'll snuggle down and you can explain it to me." He finished by turning me around and gently shoving me toward the door.

"I can snuggle." I said as I left the small bathroom, and shuffled back into the larger living area.

Hummm... the insanity thing might not work, but I'll sure give it a go, especially if it gets me major snuggle time and who knows what else. Yep, sounds like a plan, as long as I get to venture back into the Sentinel Zone. There I can take anything Jim is willing to dish out.

The end.